Luggage



June 20, 1939. H DERMAN 4 2,163,116

LUGGAGE Filed July 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR him/W DER/WAN ATTORNEY June 20, 1939. v HDERMAN 2,163,116

LUGGAGE Filed July 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet-Z INVENTOR /%R/WD/?MAN BY ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES FATEN T OF F i CE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to luggage and particularly to devices of this kind designed for the packing and transportation of apparel or merchandise of any kind or class; and the object of 5 the invention is to provide a device of this class constructed of one or more strips or sheets of material which are folded one with respect to the other to form a container or case of the desired form and contour to produce an economical m lightweight means for packing and transporting one or more garments or combinations of garments; a further object being to provide a device of this character wherein predetermined wall M parts may be extended and the device used as a II hanger for supporting the garments in conjunction with suitable supporting or hanging means, and further whereby the device will form a protective shield for a part or for the major part B of the garment when so arranged, means being if provided to extend the garments through one Wall structure of the device in this use; a further object being to provide means for retaining the various wall parts of the device in assembled relationship and further to provide means for 5 supporting or carrying the device or for hanging the same when used as a storage means; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple and economical 30 in construction, and which is constructed in accordance with the method more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying draw- ,7, ings form a part, in which the separate parts of my'improvement are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. lis a perspective view of one form of dem vice which I employ indicating a method of its use.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the device in collapsed position.

Fig, 3 is a partial section on the line 33 of 45' Fig. 1.

Fig; 4 is a'partial section on the line 4-4 of Fig; 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing another form of the device,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 5 in a partially open position; and,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View representing the wall structure of devices made in acoordance with the invention. 56 In the construction of luggage it has been the practice to employ boxes, cases, bags and the like which are more or less of unitary construction and in which a limited amount of opening. is provided therein. While some efforts have been made in the construction of flexible walled containers to provide what might be termed a partially open device, a container of the kind and class under consideration wherein at least part of the wall structure thereof is composed of rigid material and in which all of the walls are freely open has not to my knowledge ever been produced. It is the distinctive feature of my invention to provide a device for luggage of this class and particularly a structure of this type which may be manufactured and sold. so as to retail at a very low selling price thus putting it within the reach of the public at large.

To illustrate certain methods of carrying my invention into effect, I have shown in the accompanying drawings two adaptations of the invention. In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I have shown a case comprising a sheet of material I l folded to form a back wall I2, a top wall l3, a flap I30, thereon, a bottom wall 14, and a front wall l5. Side walls It and i l are secured along opposite side edges of the back wall l2 by any suitable means indicated for purposes of illustration by the rivets 18 in the flaps Ilia, lla, of said side walls. The side walls It, H, are foldable with respect to said flaps and said back wall [2 and have flaps lfib, ill), in opposed relation to the flaps 16a, lla.

The case isshown in the open position in Fig. 1 and may be closed by folding the side walls l6, ll, substantially at right angles to the back wall I2 and the flaps lBb, I'lb, thereof substantially parallel to said back wall. The flap 13a of the top wall i3 is folded over the. flaps lfib, IN); the bottom wall It is arranged substantially at right angles to the back wall l2; and the front wall I is folded against the flaps l3a, Nib and [1b to form the closed case substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

The wall structure of the case is composed of lightweight sheet material such as corrugated board, fibre, and the like, and is preferably reinforced throughout certain portions thereof as indicated'by the strip [9' on the bottom wall l4 and by the strips 20, 20a, along opposite side edges of the front wall l5. These reinforcing strips may be formed from any suitable material to give the necessary strength and rigidity to the wall portions and may be secured to said wall portions by suitable means indicated in the drawingsby the rivets 2|. If desired the rivets employed in securing the bottom reinforcing strip may be adapted, as indicated at Zla in Figs. 2 and 4, to form supporting knobs or buttons on the bottom of the case protecting the surface thereof against unnecessary wear. It will be noted that the strips 20, 20a are shorter than the front wall I5 to provide clearance as shown at 22 in Fig. 2 between the front wall l5 and the flaps l6b, Ilb, to receive the flap l3a when the case is in the closed position.

The case is provided with suitable carrying means indicated by the handles 23, 23a, secured to the upper portion of the front and. rear walls respectively by the rivets 24, 24a. It is also provided with suitable fastening means 25 comprising straps 25a secured at spaced intervals along side edge portions of the front wall l4, and corresponding straps 251) secured to side portions of the back wall l2; the straps 25b having means as shown by buckles 250 for positively engaging the straps 2511. It will be understood at this time that any other carrying and fastening devices conventionally used as luggage fixtures may be employed since these devices do not constitute a distinctive feature of the invention and are included merely for purposes of illustration.

I have shown the case as provided with means for hanging garments 26 therein, said means comprising hangers 21, each having a cross-bar 28 supported at the end portions 28a thereof by channels 29 in the blocks 3!! arranged at opposite ends of the top wall l3 and secured to the top and rear walls by suitable means. I have also shown a cross strap 3| traversing the back wall l2 and secured thereto at 3Ia. The cross strap 3| has adjusting means 3|?) whereby the garments may be arranged against the back wall l2 and securely held in position. When the case is closed, the lower portions of the garments will fold over the strap 3| as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be understood, however, that the hanging means is shown merely for purposes of illustration and that other types of hanging means may be employed or the hanging means dispensed with entirely without departing from the scope of the invention.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a modified form of my invention as comprising a case 32 formed from a sheet of lightweight material and comprising a back wall 33, a top wall 34, a bottom wall 35, and side walls 35 and 31 foldably joining said back wall at the four side edges thereof. The top and bottom walls and the side wall 36 are provided with foldable flaps 34a, 35a, 36a, respectively, adapted to be folded inwardly in a position substantially parallel to the back wall 33, and the side wall 31 is joined to a frontwall 38 foldable onto the flaps 34a, 35a, 36a, to form a closed case as shown in Fig. 5.

I have also shown suitable carrying devices 39 and suitable fastening devices 40 more fully described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. It will be understood at this time that the carrying devices as well as the fastening devices may be arranged on any peripheral walls of the case depending upon the particular use for which the case is intended. The bottom wall 35 is provided with a reinforcing strip 4| to render rigidity to' the case, and the top wall 32 is provided with garment supporting means comprising, for purposes of illustration, hangers 42 having crossrods 43 supported at end portions 43a thereof by channeled blocks 44 secured by suitable mean 45 tosaid top and rear walls.

, In Fig. 5 a garment 4B is indicated in position on one of the hangers 42 and supported against the back wall by an adjustable strap 41. When the case is entirely closed, the garment is arranged with the lower portion 45a thereof folded back on itself and over the strap 41. When the bottom wall is extended, however, the portion 46a may hang freely as clearly indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, without disturbing the strap 41. It will be apparent that the case shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is equally well adapted for use as a carrying case when the bottom is closed or as a dust shield and storage means when the bottom is extended.

While to simplify the drawings in the various figures, the wall structure has been shown as comprising a unitary sheet material, it will be understood that in practice the various walls indicated may be composed of a ground or base sheet 48 having an outer layer 49 of facing material thereon as clearly indicated in Fig. 7. The facing material 49 may be any one of a wide variety of materials such as ornamented paper, canvas, artificial leather and the like, depending upon the elaborateness of the case desired; and likewise, the inner side of the base sheet 48 may be surfaced as indicated at 50 with paint, lacquer, cloth, or other material. The inner trimming may, in more expensive cases, be made in accordance with the conventional trimmings employed in luggage for the support of other articles in connection'therewith. In fact, the supporting means may be included independent of any inner facings or trimmings.

The device herein described adapts itself in the various modifications thereof for the packing and transportation of garments, and especially for use in motor vehicle transportation; distinctive advantages of the device being its inexpensive lightweight construction, the simplicity of the construction and the function of the related parts, and the effective non-wrinkling support provided for garments arranged therein. In this. connection, it should be understood that the de-- vice may be of any shape or size to adapt it to the particular use desired, or any desired materials or combinations of materials may be used in the'construction of the device.

The device also lends itself for use as a packing and shipping case for suits, dresses, and othergarments; in which event, the construction of the case would be made very inexpensive by employing lightweight cardboard throughout the wall structure thereof and tie strings in place of the hardware indicated in the drawings for retaining the garments in position and for securing the case in a closed position. In this type of construction, a cardboard or other economical hanger might be employed. A packing and. shipping case of this type might be designed for single use only or might be intended for subsequent use by the customer as a storage means. in which event the case may be made somewhat more durable, and may be lacquered, painted orotherwise treated to form an attractive and serviceable device.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An article of manufacture of the class described comprising a container adapted for packing, transportation and storage of articles of apparel, said container comprising foldably related back, top, bottom, side and front wall parts, the back and front Wall parts being relatively large and of substantially the same dimensions,

the top, bottom and side walls being relatively narrowand all of substantially the same width, said front wall being foldable with respect to one of said narrow walls, the other three of said narrow walls including inwardly foldable flaps continuous with the free edges thereof throughout the length of said edges and arranged within the front wall when the container is closed, all of said Wall parts including said flaps being extensible to a flat sheet when the container is fully opened, adjacent edges of the top, bottom and side walls being unattached when the container is closed, one of said last mentioned narrow walls having means thereon for detachably mounting garments within the container, and means extending from the container adjacent the last named narrow wall for supporting said container.

2. An article of manufacture of the class described comprising a container adapted for packing, transportation and storage of articles of apparel, said container comprising foldably related back, top, bottom, side and front wall parts, the back and front wall parts being relatively large and of substantially the same dimensions, the top, bottom and side walls being relatively narrow and all of substantially the same width, said front wall being foldable with respect to one of said narrow walls, the other three of said narrow walls including inwardly foldable flaps continuous with the free edges thereof throughout the length of said edges and arranged within the front wall when the container is closed, all of said wall parts including said flaps being extensible to a flatsheet when the container is fully opened, adjacent edges of the top, bottom and side walls being unattached when the container is closed,

one of said last mentioned narrow walls having means thereon for detachably mounting garments within the container, means extending from the container adjacent the last named narrow wall for supporting said container, said last named wall forming the top of the container, and the bottom wall of the container being adapted to be extended to allow garments supported in the container to extend beyond and arranged over said bottom wall.

3. An article of manufacture of the class described comprising a container adapted for packing, transportation and storage of articles of apparel, said container comprising foldably related back, top, bottom, side and front wall parts, the back and front wall parts being relatively large and of substantially the same dimensions, the top, bottom and side walls being relatively narrow and all of substantially the same width, said front wall being foldable with respect to one of said narrow walls, the other three of said narrow walls including inwardly foldable flaps continuous with the free edges thereof throughout the length of said edges, one of said last mentioned narrow walls having channeled cleats secured to the end portions thereof and arranged transversely of said wall within the container for the detachable mounting of garment hanging devices with said wall, means extending from the container adjacent the last mentioned narrow wall for supporting said container, all of the walls of said container with the exception of said last mentioned narrow wall being adapted to be extended flatly in the plane of said back wall when the container is in open position with garments arranged on hangers supported therein, interengaging fastening means on the front wall and one other wall of the container for supporting the front wall in closed position with the flaps of said narrow walls disposed within said front wall, and a flexible garment supporting strap transversing the back wall and arranged within the container adjacent the end thereof opposed to said cleat supporting wall.

4. An article of manufacture of the class described comprising a container adapted for packing, transportation and storage of articles of apparel, said container comprising foldably related back, top, bottom, side and front wall parts, the back and front wall parts being relatively large and of substantially the same dimensions, the top, bottom and side walls being relatively narrow and all of substantially the same width, said front wall being foldable with respect to one of said narrow walls, the other three of said narrow walls including inwardly foldable flaps continuous with the free edges thereof throughout the length of said edges, one of said last mentioned narrow walls having channeled cleats secured to the end portions thereof and arranged transversely of said wall within the container for the detachable mounting of garment hanging devices with said wall, means extending from the container adjacent the last mentioned narrow wall for supporting said container, all of the walls of said container with the exception of said last mentioned narrow wall being adapted to be extended flatly in the plane of said back wall when the container is in open position with garments arranged on hangers supported therein, and side edges of said back and front wall and the narrow wall joining the front and back wall having reinforcing strips secured to the inner surfaces thereof to reinforce the bottom and side corners of the resulting container.

5. An article of manufacture of the class described comprising a container adapted for packing, transportation and storage of articles of apparel, said container comprising foldably related back, top, bottom, side andfront wall parts, the hack and front wall parts being relatively large and of substantially the same dimensions, the top, bottom and side walls being relatively narrow and all. of substantially the same width, said front wall being foldable with respect to one of said narrow walls, the other three of said narrow walls including inwardly foldable flaps continuous with the free edges thereof throughout the length of said edges, one of said last mentioned narrow walls having channeled cleats secured to the end portions thereof and arranged transversely of said wall within the container for the detachable mounting of garment hanging devices with said wall, means extending from the container adjacent the last mentioned narrow wall for supporting said container, all of the walls of said container with the exception of said last mentioned narrow wall being adapted to be extended flatly in the plane of said back wall when the container is in open position with garments arranged on hangers supported therein, side edges of said back and front wall and the narrow wall joining the front and back Wall having reinforcing strips secured to the inner surfaces thereof to reinforce the bottom and side corners of the resulting container, and interengaging fastening straps on the side edges of the front and back walls for securing the container in closed position with the flaps of said narrow walls disposed within the front wall.

6. An article of manufacture of the class described comprising a container adapted for packing, transportation and storage of articles of apparel, said container comprising foldably related back, top, bottom, side and front wall parts,

the back and front wall parts being relatively large and of substantially the same dimensions, the top, bottom and side walls being relatively narrow and all of substantially the same width, said front wall being foldable with respect to one of said narrow walls, the other three of said narrow walls including inwardly foldable flaps continuous with the free edges thereof throughout the length of said edges, one of said last mentioned narrow walls having channeled cleats secured to the end portions thereof and arranged transversely of said wall within the container for the detachable mounting of garment hanging devices with said wall, means extending from the container adjacent the last mentioned narrow wall for supporting said container, all of the walls of said container with the exception of said last mentioned narrow wall being adapted to be extended flatly in the plane of said back wall when the container is in open position with garments arranged on hangers supported therein, side edges of said back and front wall and thenarrow wall joining the front and back wall having reinforcing strips secured to the inner surfaces thereof to reinforce the bottom and side corners of the resulting container, interengaging fastening straps on the side edges of the front and back walls for securing the container in closed position with the flaps of said narrow walls disposed within the front wall, and a garment supporting strap transversing the inner surface of the back wall adjacent the lower end thereof, the ends of said strap being secured to the reinforcing strips of said back wall.

'7. An article of manufacture of the class described comprising a container adapted for packing, transportation and storage of articles of apparel, said container comprising foldably related back, top, bottom, side and frontwall parts, the back and front Wall parts being relatively large and of substantially the same dimensions, the top, bottom and side Walls being relatively narrow and all of substantially the same width, said front wall being foldable with respect to one of said narrow walls, the other three of said narrow walls including inwardly foldable flaps continuous with the free edges thereof throughout the length of said edges, one of said last mentioned narrow walls having channeled cleats secured to the end portions thereof and arranged transversely of said wall within the container for the detachable mounting of garment hanging devices with said wall, means extending from the container adjacent the last mentioned narrow wall for supporting said container, all of the walls of said container with the exception of said last mentioned narrow wall being adapted to be extended flatly in the plane of said back wall when the container is in open position with garments arranged on hangers supported therein, side edges of said back and front wall and the narrow wall joining the front and back wall having reinforcing strips secured to the inner surfaces thereof to reinforce the bottom and side corners of the resulting container, interengaging fastening straps on the side edges of the front and back walls for securing the container in closed position with the flaps of said narrow walls disposed within the front wall, a garment supporting strap transverslng the inner surface of the back wall adjacent the lower end thereof, the ends of said strap being secured to the reinforcing strips of said back wall, and said container supporting means comprising strap loops attached to upper end portions of the front and back walls centrally thereof.

8. An article of manufacture of the class described comprising a container adapted for packing, transportation and storage of articles of apparel, said container comprising foldably related back, top, bottom, side and front wall parts, the front, bottom, back and top wall parts being formed from a single sheet of material of the same width throughout the length thereof and including a foldable flap at the forward edge of the top wall, the side walls comprising independent sheets having attaching flange portions arranged throughout the length of the side edges of the back wall and secured to the inner surfaces thereof, the forward edges of said side walls including inwardly foldable flaps,

channelled cleats secured to the inner surface of the top wall at the ends thereof adjacent said side walls with the channels of said cleats extending inwardly and arranged transversely of the top wall to provide sliding supports for gar ment hanging devices, means centrally of the end portions of the front and back walls for forming handle members for said container, the last named means on the back wall forming means for hanging the entire container, means attached to the back wall and transversing the same at the lower end portion thereof within said container to aid in supporting the garments arranged therein, said front, bottom and side walls being extendible to form a fully opened garment hanging device with the top wall thereofmaintained at right angles to the back wall by said channeled cleats, and interengaging and fastening means at the side edges of the front and'back walls for securing the container in position with the flaps of the top and side walls disposed within said front wall.

V HARRY DERMAN. 

